Gate-latch.



WITNESSES.-

No. 730,954. 'PATENTED JUNE'16, 1903.

0. E. MoEWBN.

CW Z- M [NVENTOR UNITED STATE Patented June 16, 1903.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,954, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed September 4, 1902. Serial No. 122,068. (No model-l T0 aZZ whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES EGERTON MOEWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell,in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate- Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in gate-latches of that kind or style wherein a movable locking device, such as a depending ring or oppositely-arranged depending rings, is arranged to hold a projection on the gate-post or end post of the gate and hold the gate from being opened until the movable locking device has been lifted out of the path of the projection. These movable locking devices are moved or lifted out of the path of the projection bylevers which are fulcrumed in a fixed condition on the pins or the like. It has been found, however, that these pins soon wear out or else become oxidized, making in both instances the lock inoperative. It is the object of my invention to dispense with these pins and to loosely fulcrum the levers within the casing in which the movable locking devices are mounted. To do this, it is necessary to provide guides for the levers.

It will be premised that in cases where a gate lodges against a cleat to hold it against further movement in a well-known manner a single lever and ring will serve to hold the gate in closed position. Because the duplicate construction clearly indicates the single it is not deemed necessary to particularly illustrate the latter.

I have fully and clearly illustrated the improvements in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein- Figure l is a view in front elevation,showing the device as it appears when mounted in operative relation to a gate. Fig. 2 is a viewin elevation with the cover-plate removed and showing the interior construction and arrangement of the respective movable parts. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference indications refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a suitable casing, made of metal and of such dimensions as may suitit for the purposes intendcd. The casing is provided with a coverplate 1, fitted thereto and secured by proper screws 2, which screws may be extended through the casing, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and serve as the means by which the device may be secured in position. The lower edges of the casing and the coverplate have their edges turned inward, as at 3 4, forming a space or slot between them through which the latch-rings project, as indicated, or a slot may be formed in the plate of the casing.

In the casing is formed or secured a guideplate 5, having inclined or curved side edges 6, extending from the vertical center downward and terminating in shoulders 7 at the base, against which the ends of the levers lodge when in the position shown in Fig. 2of the drawings. Theguide-plate 5 does not fill the space between the casing and the coverplate; but sufficient space is made or left between the cover-plate and the face of the guide-plate to permit the rings to move and be guided when they are being lifted or raised by the levers. In the casing is a stop-piece 8, arranged directly above the apex of the guide-plate and serves to limit the upward movements of the levers and the rings, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

9 9 designate the ring-lifting levers, loosely arranged through apertures or slots 10 in the end walls of the casing and have their hearing or fulcrum on the lower edge of the slots, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These lifting-levers are duplicates in construction and consist of bars suitably curved, as shown, with finger-pieces 11 at their upper ends to afford convenient manipulation and at their lower ends are made with laterally-projecting lugs 12, on which the locking-rings are hung.

14 designates the locking or latch rings, loosely hung on the studs 12 of the-levers and hang normally through the slot in the bottom wall of the casing, as shown in the drawings, so that a latch or lug on the gate .or post may stand between the rings when the gate is closed, or if onlyone ring and lever are used ICO the locking projection will lodge against the ring at the inner side and be held. The lower part of the levers within the casing may be thicker than the upper end portion projecting from the casing, so that after pressure on the lever has been removed it will assume the normal position by gravity and carry the ring with it. The lower portion of the levers may be thicker than upper end projecting portion for the purpose of quickening the gravity action.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that when a person approaches from either side of the gate he operates the lever nearer to him by simply bearing down on the projecting portion, which acts to lift the lower end and carries the ring upward and out of the way of the locking projection, when the gate may be opened.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A gate-latch comprising a suitable casing formed with a longitudinal slot in its lower side wall, and an inclined guide-plate within the casing, a lever projected through the end wall of the casing loosely fulcrnmed therein and provided with a lateral lug at its lower end, and a ring hung on the lug and hanging normally through the slot in the wall of the casing,

2. A gate-latch comprising a suitable casing formed with a longitudinal slot in its bottom wall, a double-inclined guide-plate within the casing, levers projected through the end walls of the casing in which they are loosely fulcrumed, having their lower ends resting on the inclines of the guide-plate and formed with laterally-extended 1ugs,and rings hung on the lugs and extending through the slot in the bottom of the casing.

- 3. A gate-latch comprising a suitable casing formed with a lengthwise slot in its bottom side, a double-inclined guide-plate within the casing, the inclines of which terminate in shoulders at their bases, levers projected through the end walls of the casing loosely fulcrumed therein, having their lower ends resting on the inclines of the guide-plate and formed with laterally-extended lugs, rings hung on the lugs and extending through the slot in the bottom of the casing, and a stop arranged over the apex of the guide-plate to limit the movement of the levers and rings.

4. A gate-latch comprising a suitable casing formed with a longitudinal slotin its lower side wall, and an inclined guide-plate within the casing, a lever projected through the end wall of the casing loosely fulcrumed therein, and provided with a lateral lug at its lower end, a ring hung on the lug and hanging normally through the slot in the wall of the easing, and means to limit the upward movement ofthe lever and ring.

5. In a gate-latch, the combination with the casing, of a lever loosely fulcrumed therein, a locking device carried by one end of the lever, depending therefrom throughthe lower wall of the casingand movable in one direction only out of the path of a projection on the gate independently of the lever, and a guide supporting the lever within the casing.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CHARLES E. MOEWEN.

WVitnesses:

CHRIS CHRISTENSON, WILLIAM SHELLER. 

